A crucial element of RMRL’s vision is the preservation of its collection for posterity. One of the main aspects that RMRL concentrates on is preserving existing material in alternate formats, for which the library has acquired specialized equipment.

Collection

RMRL has a vast collection that reflects Tamil print heritage and culture. Spanning a period of 200 years, the collection of more than 3,00,000 items comprising of books, journals, newspapers, printed ephemera and audio records. The earliest title is a book ‘Akkiyanam’ (அக்கியானம்) published in 1713.

Support

Visitors' Impressions

I have been inspired by the commitment of the staff of this institution to pursue excellence and make these marvelous collections available to researchers and the public, both now and in the future. Truly an inspiration!…

Penny Brook, Lead Curator India office Records,
The British Library, London

My thanks to the team at the library for the excellent tour and kind hospitality during my visit. The preservation of history is so important and the work carried out here is very worthwhile. We look forward to continued engagement.

David Holly, Australian Consul-General for South India, Chennai

A wonderful endeavor and a great resource for the worlds’ scholars. The preservation of a nation is history will determine its future. The future of this collection is in good hands.

Linda Parker, Information Resource Officer, U. S. Embassy – New Delhi

It was a privilege to visit the Roja Muthiah Research Library and to admire the dedication and commitment of the staff who have produced a Jewel without any of the resources better endowed places take for granted. Thank you for showing me this great example of ingenuity, dedication and sensitivity. Keep up the excellent work. The collection is truly precious, and I hope more people learn of your wonderful work.

Ismail Serageldin, Librarian of Alexandria, Alexandria, Egypt

It is great to get a firsthand account of the Indus Research Centre and to be able to see the work in various stages. The readings explore vast areas of Mythology and are very suggestive of various historical continuities, even if I do not agree with every reading. This has been a historical and intellectual treat. I look forward to the research that Mahadevan and his colleagues are doing here.

Romila Thappar, Professor Emeritus

Today I had the great pleasure of acquainting myself with the Indus script study centre at the Roja Muthiah Research Library. I am much impressed and delighted by the work that is going on under the guidance of my old friend Iravatham Mahadevan and the direction of Professor G. Sundar. I wish all the best to the centre and look forward to fruitful collaboration with it.

Asko Parpola, Researcher

I am happy to have had the opportunity of visiting the library, which I think is a most valuable resource for many genres. The work that is being done in cataloguing and preserving materials is of a high order. There is a model here which I hope will be emulated elsewhere.

John Harris, London School of Economics

The dedication and passion to create a archiving, retrieval and restoration is very inspirational. The sustenance of such initiatives through global awareness & key to get funding for the future. All in all a very motivated & a dedicated team. Wish you all the very best.

S. Ramadorai
Advisor to Prime minister of India, National Council on Skill Development.

A mix of history and modernity !! The use of extremely sophisticated equipment to preserve and archive the riches of a nation and make available to researchers of the world, (using also the new information highway), historical records and information, is most enriching. The type of work requires much dedication and commitment.

Prithi Perera, Chief administration, Unesco, New Delhi

I am very happy to see your research library. I had valuable explanations and discussions with the library staff. The discussions will help me to improve the Jaffna library service. Thanking you and your staff. Also thank you for the valuable gift of rare collection.

S. Thanabalasingam, Chief librarian, Jaffna Public Library

This is an amazing place so little is known of the fantastic work being done here. I hope we in the Indian Institute of Science can benefit from the collective experience of the people work here. Simply astonishing – what I have seen.

Uday Balakrishnan, Registrar, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore

I have had a very enriching experience looking at the collection and the way it is preserved. I am very impressed by the library’s efforts to establish standards in archiving. Congratulations and every best wish for the future.